The only monument by Ara Shiraz, devoted to the Danish missionary, who saved 110,000 Armenian orphans from the Armenian Genocide,  has been in the yard of YSU Ijevan branch(formerly known as kindergarten named after Maria Jacobsen) for over two decades.

On April 23 of 2016, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of Maria Jacobsen’s death and the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a solemn ceremony dedicated to Maria Jacobsen was organized at YSU Ijevan branch, initiated by the Consulate of Denmark in Armenia, the Armenian Genocide Museum, Tavush Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Danish-Armenian Benevolent Mission, YSU Ijevan Branch.

This year, on November 6, marks the 136th Anniversary of Maria Jacobsen (1882-1960).

Born in 1882, Maria Jacobsen learned when young of the Ottoman “Hamidian” massacres of Armenians in the 1890s, and after studying nursing she travelled to Turkey with the Women’s Missionary Workers (Kvindelige Missions Arbejdere, KMA). She was the first nurse to reach Kharberd, arriving on her 24th birthday, and already referred to by the doctors as “the angel of salvation.” If her work was made hard by high altitudes and long journeys, it was nothing compared to what came in 1915.

The Genocide caused a sea of children to wash up at her door.

When the United States entered the war and American personnel were forced to leave, Jacobsen took sole charge of the hospital that cared for thousands, and at one point was feeding 4,500 children a day.  Her diary entries at the time make for heart-breaking reading. “I thought I should never be able to smile again,” she writes, after turning away a boy who was later found dead of hunger. “My heart was shattered,” she writes, when a tiny, naked girl was brought to her door with lacerated feet by policemen who otherwise operated as agents of persecution.

Maria soon returned to the Middle East after learning that Near East Relief was extracting 110,000 children from Turkey in the face of further persecution. She went to Lebanon and soon founded what would become the Bird’s Nest Orphanage for more than 200 children. She came up with the nickname because the children imploring her for treats reminded her of newly hatched, hungry chicks.

Visitors said the Bird’s Nest was more like a school than an orphanage, scrupulously clean and disciplined, the children taking lessons and the girls learning to produce exquisite needlework. Amazingly, Jacobsen kept the home operational during World War II, and in 1950 became the first woman to receive Denmark’s Gold medal award for her humanitarian work.

She visited her homeland for the last time in 1957 and died at the Bird’s Nest in April 1960. She was buried, according to her wishes, in the yard of the orphanage.

(More information can be found here: https://auroraprize.com/hy/stories/detail/regular/5986/-)

On October 22 of 2018, the second seminar on “Leadership” took place at YSU Ijevan branch, on the initiative of “Community Center for Development “Territorial Cooperation (NGO).

The seminar was attended by the staff and students of YSU Ijevan branch.

The seminar was conducted in English by William Joseph (Jody) Dosher, the worker of the US Peace Corps “Community and Youth  Development” program, teacher, trainer and tutor, and YSU IB  fourth-year student of the Department of English language and literature, Suzanne Sarukhanyan provided simultaneous translation.

The trainer, quoting Nelson Mandela, businessman Jim Rohn, said that one of the indispensable features of a leader was that a true leader must always follow the people, be with people in dangerous situations.

It was emphasized that leaders should be human, but not weak and at the same time should be strict, but not harsh. A man could be a good manager, but not a good leader. To be a good leader, you need to have a good manager character.

The words of one of the well-known leaders were also quoted. “I do not know why I live, until I know why I’m going to die.”

It was stressed that people were leaders not only in front of demonstrations or groups, but also in music, painting, dance, and other spheres of art.

 The names of Armenian leaders, such as Komitas, Charles Aznavour and many others, were also mentioned. They, being true leaders, have presented our culture to different nations.

 On October 23 of 2018, seven best second-year students of YSU IB “Design” Faculty, headed by Tigran Bagamyan, assistant of the Department of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture, member of RA Artists’ Union, visited to Yerevan galleries and art museums.

The visit was organized on the initiative of the Faculty of Applied Arts and with the support of YSU IB Directorate.

During the study visit, the students visited the National Gallery of Armenia, the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, and the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia.       

The students visited sculptors Armen Vardanyan and Armen Atanyan’s art studios, got acquainted with the peculiarities of sculpture creation.

On October 24 of 2018, a volleyball friendly match was organized at YSU Ijevan branch sports hall on the initiative of the Department of Emergency Situations, Athletics and Sports (lecturers A.Vanesyan and P. Karapetyan).

The first and second year-students of “Elementary Pedagogy and Methodology” specialty of YSU IB Faculty of Humanities met.

The volleyball match was held in 2 stages.

After a persistent competition, the second-year students’ team of “Elementary Pedagogy and Methodology” won with the score 2: 0.

 On October 1-20 of 2018, the Department of Professional Orientation and Practice of the Ijevan Branch Yerevan State University Foundation (YSU) held meetings with 31 students of general schools of Tavush Region (Ijevan, Berd and Noyemberyan).

Head of Education-Methodological Department A. Davtyan, Head of Professional Orientation and Practice Department L. Beginyan, Head of Education Program Planning Department S. Alaverdyan and A. Manucharyan, deputy-head of the Faculty of Humanities V. Akhababyan, acting head of Armenian Language and Literature Department V. Avagyan, Acting Head of the Department of General Mathematics and Natural Sciences G. Simonyan, Lecturer of the same Department M. Amirzyan, Coordinator of Graduates and External Stakeholders E.Garayan, school directors and teachers took part in the meeting.

The purpose of the meetings was to carry out professional orientation work in secondary schools, raise awareness of students about the branch 2019 academic year admission professions and educational programs.

During the meetings, the universitarians presented the history of YSU Ijevan branch, the main directions of its activity and faculties, the professions, the conditions and privileges of admission.

University Admission education programs of 2019 academic year, new offers and opportunities (referring to full-time learning system: “Environment and Nature Management”, “Applied Art” and “Psychology”), exam materials and changes in admission exams.

Particular attention was paid to the Russian Language and Literature curriculum, which will be implemented for the first time taking into consideration the labor market issues.

In order to maintain a constant contact between the branch and the region’s secondary schools, and to strengthen the school-university connection, it has been suggested to periodically organize visits, thematic lectures and discussions, and to take advantage of part-time learning opportunities. In the secondary schools of Berkaber and Gandzakar the department heads V.Avagyan and G. Simonyan made thematic discussions.

The meetings were in an interactive and engaging atmosphere. The students were interested in various issues related to educational process, tuition fees, tuition fees discounts and privileges for bordering community students, admission subject exams.

The representatives of the schools expressed their satisfaction and expected that the cooperation would be continuous.